Sewing-machine attachment.



w. MORRISON; SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913.

1,095,659. Patented May 5,1914.

2 sums-sum 1.

A q m 79' wnNEssEs |NVENT0RI Z%Z BY 26 fifi w I l U TONEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c

m'rnn STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAIJI MORRISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MORRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Sewing-Machine Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

lVhile the attachment forming the subject-matter of this invention is principally intended to be applied to uniting the ends of leather bands employed for the flexible sides of chambers in gas-meters, it is evident that it may be used for any purpose where the so-called blind stitch is to be'formed. In bands of this character, it is essential that the stitches uniting the adjoining ends of the band shall not pass completely through both layers of leather, thereby creating minute openings at such stitches through which gas will leak. Heretofore, the ends of the bands have usually been superposed toform a sufiicient lap and cemented together by shellac or other cement. The edges of the lapping ends have thereupon been stitched to the overlapped part by hand, care being taken that, vhile the needle pierced the free edge, it should not pierce completely through the overlapped part, but should only partly penetrate the leather. This has been aslow procedure and one which required highly skilled operators, thereby rendering such bands expensive and the joints more or less irregular.

By my attachment, the leather is doubled upon itself to bring the doubled edge in exact register with the free edge and in exactly such alinement with the needle that the latter will only partly pierce the thickness of the doubled leather, thereby making the so-called blind stitch.

With these ends in view, my invention consists of an attachment for sewing machines for making a so-called blind stitch in leather or skin.

It further consists of such an attachment, in which the free edge of one piece and a sharply doubled portion of another piece can be clamped beneath the needle of a sewing machine that the needle can pass through the free edge and through such doubled por tion without passing through from face to face of such doubled portion and thus avoiding complete penetration of said doubled portion.

It further consists of improved means for clamping the work.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1913.

' frame.

Serial No. 776,743.

Patented May 5, 1914.

It further consists of improved means for 3 the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawingsFigure 1 represents a top-plan view of my improved sewing-machine attachment, showing a part of the bed-plate. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the clamping part of the attachment, viewed from the outer side of the machine- Fig. 3 represents an elevation of said part, viewed from the inner side of the machine-frame. Fig. 4: represents a longitudinal section of said part taken through the clamping-prism.

Fig. 5 represents a transverse section on the line ac-m in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a transverse section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents an end view of the attachment. Fig. 8 represents a section of the band, illustrating the manner in which the stitching is made. Fig. 9 represents a section of the band straightened after stitching. Fig. 10 represents a perspective view of one end of the guide-bar. -Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the bed-plate of a sew- Iing-machine, having a needle-bar, 2, and a needle, 3. The sewing-machine may be of any suitable or desired construction, the attachment being adaptable to any form of sewing machine.

The attachment has a base-plate, 4, formed with a rib, 5, upon its underside, which rib is'adapted'to bear against the edge of the bed-plate of the sewing machine to serve as a stop for the attachment to prevent the same from moving too far' inward. Two blocks, 6, and 7, are 'adjustably secured upon the base-plate by means of screws, 8, adjustable in slots,,9, in the base plate and entering the blocks. Lugs, 10, project from the base-plate at the outer ends of the blocks, and adjusting-screws, 11, pass through said lugs and into the ends of the blocks to longitudinally move the same. Pins, 12, project inward from said blocks,

and a prism or stretching bar, 13, has recesses, 1%, in its ends fitting loosely upon said pins, said prism or bar resting upon the base-plate. One of the blocks is formed with a pair of ears, 15, connected by a bar, 16, and the other block has a pair of ears, 17, and a pivoted hook-latch, 18, having aspring, 19, forcing the hook to vard the ears. A frame, 20, has lugs, 21, at its ends one of which is adapted to engage beneath the bar 16 upon the ears, 15, and the other lug is adapted to fit between the opposite pair of ears 1?, to be engaged by the hook-latch 18. A bar, 22, having a clan'iping por- Mon, 23, adapted to fit over the prism or bar, and flanges, 24:, has posts, 25, at its corners slidable in the corners of the frame 20, and springs, 26 upon said posts bear against the frame and against the flanges of the clamping bar. The base-plate has a rib, 27, upon its upper face, and a clamping bar, 28, having a groove, 37, corresponding to the rib is pivoted at one end as indicated at 52 upon one of the adjustable blocks and has its other end engaging between cars, 29, and engaged by a hook-latch, 30, having a spring, 31, for throwing it into engagement with the end of the clamping bar. The inner ends of the adjustable blocks are formed with seats, 32, in which rest the raised and outwardly extending ends, 33, of a guidebar, 3%, adapted to rest on the bed-plate of the machine and having its edge projecting beyond the inner edge of the base-plate.

The upper face of said guide-bar has a rib, and a clamping-bar, 36, having a groove, 38, corresponding to the rib, is pivoted at one end between cars, 39, upon one end of the guide-bar and has its other end engaging a hook-latch tl, pivoted between ears, 40, upon the other end of the guidebar, and having a spring, 42, for throwing it into engagement with the end of the clamping-bar.

A guide, 43, has a shank, 4 L, having a slot, 45, through which passes a thumb-screw, 4-6, into the bed-plate of the sewinganachine.

The flanged guide-head of said guide has a bar, 47, removably secured to it, and said bar is formed with a thinflange, 48, at one edge and projecting in one direction, and a thicker flange, 19, at the other edge and projecting in the opposite direction.

In practice, the overlapping ends, 50 and 51, of the leather band are placed upon the guide-bar Set with the edge of one end eX- tending slightly beyond the edge of the same, and the other end. doubled around the edge of the guide-bar. It said bar is provided with the rib and clamping bar, the overlapping ends of the band need not be cemented by shellac or similar cement, but it the guide-bar is without the rib and no clamping bar is provided, which is a form of the attachment which I may at times prefer, the overlapping ends are cemented together by shellac or similar cement. The guide-bar is now placed in position with its ends resting in the seats in the adjustable blocks, and the doubled band is placed over the prism or bar upon the base-plate and over the outer rib, it the latter is employed. The clamping frame is now placed so as to cause the yielding clamping portion to clamp the band upon the prism or bar and locked in place by the spring-actuated hooklatcn, and, it the rib upon the base-plate and the pivoted clamping-bar are employed, said bar is clamped in place to tightly stretch the leather band. The guide is adjusted upon the bed-plate of the machine with either the thin or thick flange projecting outward, depending upon the thickness of the leather worked upon, and the free edge of the band and the sharply doubled portion of the same are brought against the guide by the clamping attachment and fed beneath the needle, which completely penetrates the free edge of the band and penetrates the doubled edge of the band without completely going through the same from side to side. as will appear from Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. A blind-stitch is thus formed, that is, a stitch which does not completely penetrate the second layer of the joint, so that there will be no needle-perforations through which may leak when the joined hands are used in gas-meters.

The blocks may be adjusted and secured by their screws, according to the thickness of the leather worked on, and the prism or stretching and clamping bar will have sufficient play upon the pins in its ends to adapt itself to diilerences in the eather. If the guide is employed, the edges of the leather and the guide-bar are brought up against the same and guided by it in its travel be neath the needle, but the rib upon the under side of the base-plate, bearing against the edge of the bed-plate of the machine, can under certain conditions also serve as a guide.

\Vhile the attachment is disclosed as principally intended for sewing together the ends of leather-bands employed in the collapsible chambers of a gas-meter, it is evident that the device may be used wherever a so-called blind stitch is required. The adjustments oi the several parts are such that the attachment may be used with leather of diiierent thicknesses.

The prism or bar and clamping frame will exert sullicient tension upon the leather to stretch it around the flat guide-plate suiiiciently to present a sharply doubled edge, and the prism or bar having play upon its pins and the clamping-frame having yielding spring-support will prevent undue strain upon the leather. lVhile thus the rib upon the movable guide-plate, to-

gether with its clamping bar, as well as the rib 2'7v and bar 28, assist in holding the band tight, the clamping frame and prism may hold the hand without said ribs and grooved bars, said bars exerting extrastress upon the leather and stretching the doubled edge to its utmost tension and sharpness.

The action of the stretching means is the same when the ends of the bands are clamped between the rib and bar as if the ends of the band were cemented. That is to say, the pull exerted will be on the upper layer from the point of clamping to the stretching means and upon the lower layer of the band, it will be from the point of clamping thereof, on the doubled portion around the guide plate and on the portion of the band below the guide-plate and extending to the stretching means, so that the lower layer will be drawn tightly around the said guide plate to present the sharply doubled edge at the line of stitching, and while this action is suflicient to accomplish the desired results owing to the play permitted in the stretching means, the strain will not be great,

enough to unseat the guide plate.

When the guide-plate is provided with the rib upon its upper face and with the clamp ing-bar, a number of such plates may be employed with one sewin -machine and attachment, and the overlapping ends of the band of leather may be placed upon such guide-plates and clamped upon the same by the clamping bars without the need of cementing the same. Such plates and clamping bars may thus be successively placed in the attachment and the clamping frame and the outer clamp closed upon the leather, whereupon the bands may be stitched. Vhen the bands are of thin leather, the thin flange of the guide is presented to the doubled edge of the leather. Then the bands are of heavy leather, the screws securing the flanged bar to the T-head of the guide are unscrewed and the bar reversed to present the thicker flange and secured.

The rib or stop 5 upon the underside of the base-plate is at such a distance from the edge of the guide-bar that it will bear against the edge of the bed-plate of the machine and prevent further movement toward the machine, when the edge of the guideplate is in the proper position relative to the needle to allow the latter to properly penetrate the doubled band to form the blind stitch without danger of the needle striking the guide-plate. This relative distance between the stop and the edge of the guideplate is proportioned to have the stop bear against the edge of the bed-plate of the machine, when the edge of the guide-plate is nearest the needle, when stitching very thin skins, while the stop may not, in all instances, abut the edge of the bed-plate when thicker skins are stitched.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the mechanism thus disclosed provided the principles of construction set forth. respectively in the following claims are employed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a guide-plate around the edge of which a band to be stitched is doubled, a base-plate, a stretching bar on the latter, and a clamping frame having a clamping portion to coact with said bar to clamp superimposed portions of the band between it and said bar. 2. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a guide-plate around the edge of which a band to be stitched is doubled, a base-plate, a stretching bar upon said baseplate, and a yielding clamping frame hav ing a clamping portion to coact with said bar to clamp superimposed portions of the band between it and said bar.

3. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a base-plate, a guide-plate detachably supported upon said base-plate to permit a band to be stitched doubled around its edge, a stretching bar supported upon said base-plate to have limited play upon the same, and a clamping frame having a clamping portion adapted to coact with said bar to clamp superimposed portions of the band to draw the same around the guideplate.

4. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a base-plate adapted to be guided upon the bed-plate of a sewing-machine, a guide-plate detachably. secured upon said base-plate and around the inner edge of which a band to be stitched may be doubled and formed with a rib upon its upper face, mean for clamping the superposed layers of said band, and a clamping bar movably attached to the guideplate and formed with a groove corresponding to the rib upon the guide plate and having means for locking the same.

5. In an attachment for a sewing machine, a base-plate, a guide-plate loosely supported upon said base-plate and around the inner edge of which one end of a band to be stitched may be doubled and said guideplate formed with a rib upon its upper side, a clamping bar movably attached to said guide-plate and formed with a groove corresponding to the rib on said plate, and means movable upon said base-plate and adapted to clamp the overlapping portions of the band.

6. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a base-plate adapted to be guided upon the bed-plate of a sewing-machine, a guide-plate around the inner edge of which one end of a band to be stitched may be doubled and detachably supported upon said base-plate near the inner edge of the same, a prism supported upon said base-plate to have limited play upon the same,a clamping frame detachably supported above said prism, and a triangular clamping portion corresponding to and fitting upon said prism and yieldingly supported in said frame.

'7. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a base-plate adapted to be guided upon the bed-plate of a sewing machine, blocks adjustably supported upon said baseplate, a guide-plate around the inner edge of which one end of a band to be stitched may be doubled and detachably supported upon the inner ends of said blocks, a frame detachably supported in said blocks, a prism upon the base-plate and having its ends loosely connected to said blocks, and a triangular clamping portion corresponding to and fitting upon said prism and yieldingly supported in said frame.

8. In an attachment for a sewing machine, a base-plate adapted to be guided upon the bed-plate of a sewing-machine, a guide-plate detachably supported at the in ner edge of said base-plate and around the inner edge of which the end of a band to be stitched may be doubled, and a guide adapted to be adjustably secured upon the bedplate of a machine and having a guide-head provided with a guide flange against which the work slides.

9. In an attachment of the character stated, a base-plate adapted to be guided upon the bed-plate of a sewing-machine, a guide-plate detachably supported at the inner edge of said base-plate and around the inner edge of which .the end of a band to be stitched may be doubled, a guide adapted to be adj ustably secured upon the bed-plate of the machine and having a guide-head, and

a bar detachably secured to said guide-head and having flanges projecting at right angles in opposite direction from the edges of the bar and of different thickness.

10. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a base-plate, a guide-plate formed with a rib upon its upper face and detachably supported upon said base-plate at the edge of the same and around the edge of which a band to be stitched is doubled, and means upon the base-plate for clamping the superposed portions of the band and for stretching the doubled portion of the band around the guide plate.

11. In a device of the character stated, a base plate, an attachment adjustable thereon, a guide-plate and fixed means, suitably carried by the base plate, adapted to engage a suitable fixed part of the machine for limiting the inward movement of the base plate toward the needle to positively prevent the guide plate from being positioned beneath the needle.

12. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a guide plate around the edge of which a band to be stitched is doubled, a base plate, and means on said base plate for clamping the superposed portions of the band and for stretching the doubled portion of the band around the guide plate.

1.3. An attachment of the character stated, comprising a guide plate around the edge of which a band to be stitched is doubled, means on said guide plate for clamping superposed portions of the band, a base plate, and means on said base plate for clamping the free ends of the superposed portions of the band and for stretching the doubled portion of the band around the guide plate.

WILLIAM MORRISON.

Vitnesses JOHN A. 'Wmonnsrmur, N. Bnssmenn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

